Help / Podcasts

All Podcast FAQs

We've supplied a list of all the questions on one page for you to quickly scan. Please look for any specific questions you may have and if you still can't find the answer, please use our webform to contact us directly. The form can be found by clicking the link that's at the bottom of each question page.
 
Use the links on right hand side if you want to narrow down your search by topic area.

• What is a podcast?
• What is an mp3?
• What is RSS?
• What is the difference between downloading, podcasting and the 'listen again' service?
• Do I have to subscribe in order to listen?
• How do I subscribe to a podcast?
• How do I unsubscribe from a podcast?
• Do I have to pay for podcasts?
• What kind of internet connection do I need?
• How do I download an episode of a podcast?
• Can I burn podcast episodes to CD?
• Can the BBC offer The Archers as a podcast?
• For how long are podcast episodes available?
• I want to download past episodes of a podcast - is there an archive?
• Why aren’t all programmes available as a podcast?
• What video podcasts are available from the BBC?
• Why have you removed the music from some podcasts?
• Why are some podcasts only available in the UK?
• Where can I buy radio programmes or series on CD or cassette?
• What software do I need to subscribe to a podcast?
• What software do I need to play a podcast?
• Can the sound quality of podcasts be improved?
• Why do podcast episodes take a very long time to download on my computer?
• How do I transfer podcasts onto my mp3 player?
• Do I need to have an iPod or mp3 player to listen to, or subscribe to, podcasts?
• How can I play BBC podcasts on my mobile phone?
• I've downloaded an mp3 but I can't hear anything. What could be the problem?
• I’m clicking to download an episode and it’s playing rather than downloading onto my computer. Why is this happening?
• I'm going on holiday - will my podcasts be downloaded while I'm away?
• I've subscribed to a podcast but I'm getting an error message. What could be the problem?

• Hot Topics

• Can I download radio programmes to listen to later?

• Can I listen to local BBC radio through my TV?

• What is a podcast?

• How can I check my DAB coverage?

• I want to download past podcast episodes - is there an archive?

• Other BBC Help

• BBC iPlayer help

• bbc.co.uk/help

• BBC Webwise guides to the internet